French Join Africa Battle With Islamist Rebels

Paris Puts Troops on Ground, Asks U.S. for Drones to Help Fight al Qaeda-Linked Insurgents Gaining a Foothold in Mali

By

Gabriele Parussini,

Drew Hinshaw and

David Gauthier-Villars

Updated Jan. 11, 2013 7:52 p.m. ET

PARIS—French military forces joined Malian troops battling Islamist rebels in the West African nation, and Paris asked the U.S. to send drones to support the campaign, amid Western fears that insurgent groups with links to al Qaeda could destabilize the region and gain the ability to strike overseas.

President François Hollande said Friday that French soldiers were intervening alongside the local army and other troops from Western African countries, at the Mali government's request, to help stop the progression of rebel...